Millennialism in the Korean Protestant Church

by Ung Kyu Pak

Overview

This book explains the origin and development of premillennial eschatology in the evangelical Korean church from 1884 to 1945. It examines the eschatological implications of Korean religious thought, the eschatology of American missionaries, the horrific experience of Japanese occupation (1910-1945), and the enforcement of Shinto shrine worship in light of Korean Christians’ tenacious hold on dispensational premillennialism. This book explains the place of premillennialism in the Christian life, and it deals with the cultural underpinnings of Christianity in Korean history by bringing to bear the complex social, political, and religious elements of Korean culture.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780820452692
Publisher:	Peter Lang Inc., International Academic Publishers
Publication date:	10/07/2005
Series:	Asian Thought and Culture , #50
Pages:	342
Product dimensions:	6.10(w) x 9.10(h) x 1.00(d)

About the Author

The Author: Ung Kyu Pak began his theological education at Chong-shin University in Seoul, Korea, and at Westminster Theological Seminary in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, where he received his M.Div., his Th.M., and his Ph.D. Dr. Pak resides in Korea, where he has taught church history at Asia United Theological University (ACTS) since 1999. He is the author of many books and articles, including Bruce F. Hunt: His Life & Ministry.

Editorial Reviews

«Ung Kyu Pak’s illuminating book is a theologically astute reflection on the shaping of millennialism in the Korean Protestant Church. Written with clarity and conviction, this book is a window onto the landscape of Korean millennial thought.» (Young Jae Kim, Professor of Church History, Hapdong Theological Seminary, Suwon, Korea)
«This book is remarkable due to its extentsive research and careful evaluation of the way in which different movements, some of them controversial, came to shape Korean theology and church life. Premillennialism has been studied before, but rarely within the context of an emerging church. Pak’s book reveals Christian character and the strong faith of new believers in times of transition and trouble. This is a book not only for theologians and students of the Korean church, but also for all believers who desire encouragement and theological stimulation.» (D. Clair Davis, Professor of Church History, Westminster Theological Seminary, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania)
«This book is a must read for anyone interested in the theology of one of the fastest growing churches in the world. Ung Kyu Pak’s strikingly multi-layered analysis describes premillennialism more as a view of history than as a theological doctrine – an evangelistic mixture of realistic pessimism about the present with absolute faith in the future when Christ will return. ‘Millennialism in the Korean Protestant Church’ is a much needed reminder that in a troubled world like ours, a gospel that leads from fear to hope in Christ is better than a gospel that leads from hope in humanity to disillusionment.» (Samuel Hugh Moffett, Professor of Ecumenics and Mission Emeritus, Princeton Theological Seminary, Princeton, New Jersey)

From the Publisher